Seattle Mag
Best Neighborhoods: Airport Way South, Georgetown
Between South Lucile and South Hardy streets lies our city's biker chic 'hood.
PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE: Arty singles and employed beatniks Sometimes the aircraft bound for Sea-Tac Airport and Boeing Field fly so low over Georgetown it seems you could reach out and tickle their bellies. If this isn’t stimulating enough, there are plenty of ground-bound attractions in this SoHo-style neighborhood, from the gracious Corson Building on…
Best Neighborhoods: Rainier Avenue South, Columbia City
From South Edmunds Street to South Dawson Street, a peek at a small town in the Seattle's South End.
PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE: Bike-riding, Berkeley-style globalistas If Mayberry had an urban soul, it might look like Columbia City. The high charm quotient comes from the old-style street clock and painted benches, plus cute flower shop KC’s Flowers, all-day breakfast hangout Geraldine’s Counter, butcher shop Bob’s Quality Meats, multiple-screen movie house Columbia City Cinema and…
Best Neighborhoods: Upper Fremont Avenue North
Between North 41st and North 45th streets lies Seattle nouveau hippie haven.
PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE: Low-profile singles, students and starter families The demise last fall of the much loved Buckaroo Tavern, serving suds since 1938, probably garnered Upper Fremont (also called Fremont Village) its most press ever, but this short sidewalk strip just up the hill from the main attractions of Fremont is more deserving of…
Best Neighborhoods: 24th Avenue Northwest, Ballard
From Northwest Market Street to Northwest 65th Street, a peek at the insider's Ballard.
PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE: Indie traditionalists It’s a familiar syndrome in many families: the spotlight-craving, showboat sibling versus the spotlight-dodging, quietly confident one. Just north of Ballard’s more look-at-me venues on historic Ballard Avenue NW and mainstream NW Market Street lie the subdued, tree-lined offerings of 24th Avenue NW. Here you’ll find colorful coffee shops…
Sweet Streets: An Open letter to Beacon Hill
Re: Why you aren't quite "there" yet as a neighborhood.
Dear Beacon Hill neighborhood, How are you? Seems like ages since we’ve heard from you, and I’m starting to get concerned. I mean, even though you’re basically right next door, it’s as if we’re complete strangers. And we had such high hopes for a special friendship. After all, you’ve got such potential: You’re as cute…
Best Neighborhoods: Greenwood Avenue North
From North 65th Street to North 75th Street, a look at laid-back, lived in PhinneyWood.
PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE: Modern Family-style broods and kid-free yuppies With yoga studios, day spas, hair salons, dental offices, even a DIY dog-washing joint, the overlapping, family-focused ’hoods of Phinney Ridge and Greenwood—or PhinneyWood—have the essentials and the extras covered. SHOP: There’s an old-school True Value Hardware store and a quirky new, all-vegan shoe store/chocolate…
Fondue: 5 Spots for a Retro Date Night
Everything tastes better with cheese (or chocolate), so it’s no surprise that fondue remains a guilt
PAIRWhat happens when a mild, buttery Camembert and a strong, pungent Gorgonzola join forces? They create Cambozola, which makes a dip-tastic fondue. Pair’s version is accompanied by pear, apple and crostini pieces begging to be dunked. $9. Ravenna/U District, 5501 30th Ave. NE; 206.526.7655; pairseattle.com THE MELTING POTYou can’t go wrong with the traditional Swiss…
Restaurant News: Spinasse Expands, Tom Douglas’s SLU Footprint Grows
News on Spinasse's expansion into the neighboring space, and Tom Douglas' great South Lake Union tak
DOUBLING DOWNSpinasse, the cozy Capitol Hill pastaria (1531 14th Ave.) where Jason stratton, one of Food & Wine magazine’s Best New Chefs of 2010, heads the kitchen, will double in size later this spring. The northern-Italian-style restaurant will expand into the corner space next door, the former Whimsy Home Décor location, adding another dining room…
Independent Pizzeria Good for Picky Eaters
Pizza purists are flocking to Madison Park for fine pies and great wines.
Madison Park, long marooned at the farthest reaches of E Madison Street with just ice cream, burgers and pub food to stave off its residents’ hunger pangs, is in the midst of a culinary rebirth. Not only has the Madison Park Conservatory been making waves in the old Sostanza space (more on that in a…
Book Bindery Speaks Volumes
Does superstar chef Shaun McCrain live up to high expectations?
As a psychology major in college, I studied expectations. How both low and high expectations can turn into self-fulfilling prophecies. Part of my job as a restaurant critic is assessing what kind of potential a place has, and then judging whether it lives up to that potential. But there is also our expectation of a…
Sweet Streets: 12th Avenue, Capitol Hill
From E Olive Street to E Marion Street, a look at our city's foodie haven.
PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE: Trend-setting hipsters It probably already held the title, but thanks to the most recent hipness outbreak along 12th Avenue, Capitol Hill is even more officially entrenched as Seattle’s capital of cool—as well as a growing foodie fave. Between the reassuring anchors of Seattle University and the Seattle Police Department’s East Precinct…
Sweet Streets: Westlake Avenue North, South Lake Union
Between Mercer and Thomas streets, lies Seattle's new pearl.
PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE: Tech-savvy, young professionals Once mostly an area passed by commuters heading to I-5, South Lake Union now boasts some of the city’s most booming blocks of shops, restaurants and urban residences. Philanthropist/entrepreneur Paul Allen, the CEO of Vulcan Inc., has made the area his own Monopoly board, with developments including the…